Statement by Donald Dewar's media spokesman David Whitton:

It is with deep sadness I have to report that Scotland's First Minister, Donald Dewar, has died.

He was visited by his daughter Marion and son Ian and after discussion with his consultants the decision was taken to turn off his life support system.

The cause of the first minister's death was a brain haemorrhage.

Marion and Ian have asked me to express their thanks to all those who assisted their father over the last two days.

In partcular they would like to thank the medical staff at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary's accident and emergency unit and the staff at the intensive care unit here at the Western (General Hospital).

News of the first minister's death has been passed to his cabinet colleagues and to Prime Minister Tony Blair, and to his colleagues in London.

I'm sure everyone will agree that this is a sad day for Scotland. Scotland has lost a great man.